Toxocara cati
| Toxocara cati | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Adults of T. cati | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Secernentea |
| Order: | Ascaridida |
| Family: | Toxocaridae |
| Genus: | Toxocara |
| Species: | T. cati |
| Binomial name | |
|
Toxocara cati (Zeder, 1800) |
|
Toxocara cati (toxo=arrow + cara=head; synonym Toxocara mystax, common name feline roundworm) is worldwide distributed parasite of cats and other felids and it is one of the most common nematodes of cats. This parasite is dangerous as it can infect both wild felids as well as domestic felids. Adult worms are localised in the gut of the host. In adult cats, the infection – which is called toxocariasis – is usually asymptomatic. However, massive infection in juvenile cats can be fatal.
Feline roundworms may be brownish-yellow to cream colored to pink and may be up to 10 cm in length. Adults have short, wide cervical alae giving their anterior ends the distinct appearance of an arrow (hence their name). Eggs are pitted ovals with a width of 65 μm and a length of about 75 μm making them invisible to the human eye. The larvae are so small that they are easily transmitted from an adult female to her nursing kittens through her milk.
Contact with the roundworm species for wild felids can come from a variety of sources. The primary source of contact with this species is contact with infected fecal matter. The eggs of the roundworm become infective in three to four weeks after being passed out in fecal matter (Webmd.com 2008). Contact with the soil, licking fur near feet, and eating a host animal (such as rodents) can also lead to infection of the felines (Webmd.com 2008). The consumption of infected carrion also leads to contraction of the parasites, which is some of the food that members of Felidae consume (Umich.edu 2013). The eggs hatch in the intestines and the larvae are then released into the cat’s digestive tract (Web.md.com 2008). The larvae are capable of migrating through the tissues of the wild feline (Web.md.com 2008). The larvae use the blood of the feline to lungs (Web.md.com 2008). From there, they move up to the trachea where they are swallowed causing hacking and other problems (Web.md.com 2008). The larvae can also move throughout the body and cause more damage to the infected individuals. The worms can even go into the mother’s milk and infect the young (Web.md.com 2008)
There are numerous clinical signs when dealing with Feline Roundworm. Some clinical signs that can be detected easily are vomiting, decreased appetite, and poor growth (VCAHospitals.com 2013). Like many diseases, changes in behavior can also attribute as a symptom of any individuals infected with roundworms. The decreased appetite will result in individuals appear scrawny, mangy, and sickly. The poor growth and decreased appetite is exceptionally detrimental to kittens, as the appetite loss and poor growth will ultimately lead to mortality since this time of growth for kittens is very important. The mortality of kittens will lead to continual decrease of the population as there will be fewer kittens to replace adult mortality. Additional clinical signs that can be identified at closer examination include pot bellied appearance, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea (VCAHospitals.com 2013). Those with a small number of worms, however, may not show the clinical signs of being infected with worms (VCAHospitals.com 2013) resulting in it being hard to determine if individuals have roundworms.
...
Wikipedia